Improving the competitive ability of lentil with wild lettuce

An experiment was conducted to examine the extent of root and canopy interference of lentil (Lens culinaris L.) with wild lettuce (Lactuca serriola L.). Wild lettuce was surrounded with either two or eight lentil plants. There were different types of competition: no competition, shoot competition, root competition and full competition (root and shoot). The performance of wild lettuce grown in full competition with two lentil plants was the same as that grown with root competition only. Also, there were no significant differences between wild lettuce grown with lentil canopy shade and the control, where there was no competition. On the other hand wild lettuce grown with eight neighbours was significantly suppressed in full, canopy or root competition.

Keywords:

Lactuca serriola L. , wild lettuce , lentil , root competition , shoot competition